{"id":27898,"date":"2016-11-08T08:05:01","date_gmt":"2016-11-08T13:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/?p=27898"},"modified":"2025-01-19T12:40:20","modified_gmt":"2025-01-19T12:40:20","slug":"how-i-grow-my-edible-garden-right-inside-our-kitchen-the-grocery-game-challenge-2016-1-nov-7-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalskyweb.co\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/2016\/11\/08\/how-i-grow-my-edible-garden-right-inside-our-kitchen-the-grocery-game-challenge-2016-1-nov-7-13\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Grow My Edible Garden Right inside Our Kitchen: The Grocery Game Challenge 2016 #1 Nov 7-13"},"content":{"rendered":"

IT’S CHEAP, HEALTHY AND WISE<\/span><\/h2>\n

Why buy when you can plant an edible garden right inside your kitchen? Why toss your vegetable scraps into the trash bin when you can regrow them instead? This post is not about starting your own garden per se, but more about how to recycle and regrow your vegetable from discards<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Reaping what we sow from our edible garden<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before we started our edible garden, my family of four usually spent around $600-700 a month on groceries.<\/strong> Fruits, veggies (including those that are canned and frozen), rice and other perishable goods rarely come cheap so we usually spend around $70-90<\/strong> for these items per every grocery trip. Now as our edible garden grows, we are saving around $20 per week on veggies<\/strong> based on their costs off the shelf. It might not be much now but having an accessible food supply 24\/7 is so much worth it!<\/p>\n

Aside from saving a lot of money because I could dramatically reduce my trip to the veggie aisle, this practice is also something that had improved my family\u2019s health. Growing veggies in the kitchen (and later transferring them to pots outdoors) has been a fun family project. My kids are just fascinated with our plant\u2019s daily growth, likewise, they are also curious on how they taste!<\/p>\n

All organic goodness<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now before I start, let me tell you that all veggies I used are either given by my amateur gardener friends, bought at the local weekend farmer\u2019s market or at the nearest\u2019 supermarket organic counter. I would rather not cook and consume plants and meat that are grown at the big farms. Conventionally grown greens off the shelf are chock-full of fertilizers, irradiated to the core and bathed continuously with pesticides.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be surprised that the people who handled your greens are dressed like there is an epidemic outbreak, just to handle these pesky chemicals. That is notwithstanding your probability to pick a Frankenstein GMO fruit or veggie off the shelf, which is also likely since they look fresh for longer amounts of time.<\/p>\n

These are the fruits and veggies that I would rather handle with a ten-foot pole. I cannot stress this enough, just imagine all that chemicals and GMO in your mouth and gut. No good but just yuck! So the best thing to do for your health and budget is to plant a garden!<\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong> Planting Tips For Your Vegetable Garden To Protect Your Investment<\/a><\/p>\n

Common veggies that you can soak and regrow<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"HOW-I-GROW-MY-EDIBLE-GARDEN-RIGHT-INSIDE-OUR-KITCHEN-3\"<\/p>\n

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  1. Cabbage, bok-choy, and lettuce<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    All it takes to regrow these crunchy greens is to cut its thick base and then to soak them in a glass or jar of water. Replace the water daily and put the plant in a window with ample sunlight. In a week or two, new leaves and stalks will slowly emerge. Transfer them to a pot when they are at least five inches tall.<\/p>\n

    When fully grown, just cut out some leaves and stalks for your salad and it will regrow again. This technique might not work on winter\u2019s freezing temperature and less sunlight. You can still experiment at all seasons but as per my experience, their scraps can grow easier during summer and spring, and in some cases in autumn too.<\/p>\n

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    1. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other root crops<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      These common root crops are the most likely to accumulate a large amount of pesticide. After hearing this fact, I decided to grow them on my own. When left at room temperature (do not refrigerate these roots) they tend to form some shoots or sprouts called \u201ceyes\u201d.<\/p>\n

      Just cut the potato in third or half, with each sprout equally distributed on each cut. They will later form the plant\u2019s stem and leaves. Plant each of these cut potato in a pot rich with compost. You can also do the same with your ginger and turmeric.<\/p>\n

      Related:<\/strong> How to grow pot potatoes at home<\/a><\/p>\n

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      1. Leeks, celery, and lemongrass<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        When I buy them organic, they usually have some of their root intact. As long as there are at least two inches of that thick fleshy base, you can regrow them easily. Soak in a glass of water the thick base and root. Replace this water every day.<\/p>\n

        In a few days, you will see additional roots and greenish stem. When this happens, you can now transfer this to a pot and place it in a well-lit window. Once these plants form their flower and later some seeds, you can use them to replant and expand your edible garden.<\/p>\n

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        1. Onion and garlic<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          These two are always in my recipes and they didn\u2019t come cheap. These bulbs are also loaded with harmful chemicals to make them last long at the store. Those are the reasons why planting them is a wise decision. To start, separate from the bulb each clove and immerse in a glass of water. Observe daily.<\/p>\n

          In just a few days, you will see some shoots forming. When this happens, it\u2019s about time to transfer it to a pot of soil. They can survive even with less water so just spray some sparingly. Once they start to form shoots, you can cut some of this green stem to top your stews and salads.<\/p>\n

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          1. Basil<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            This fragrant herb is the easiest to grow indoors. All it takes is to put the stem with leaves intact in a glass of water. The water line must reach just half of the stem, do not soak the leaves. Put them in a well-lit area at the window. Just replace the water daily and watch the roots grow. Once there are at least three inches of roots that have formed, you may now transfer them to some small pots or at a hanging vegetable bag.<\/p>\n

            Related:<\/strong> Too Much Fresh Basil? Make Basil Cubes for the freezer<\/a><\/p>\n

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            1. Fruits<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              It is also possible to grow your head of pineapple just by being selective in terms of cutting. Just leave out the thick core and crown and let it immerse in water. Even avocado can be grown by soaking half level of its seed into a bowl of water. As for tomatoes, instead of throwing the seeds to the trash, dry them instead. Plant the dried seeds on a fertile soil. Under the right conditions and some tender loving care, they will grow.<\/p>\n

              Herbs that you can grow even without soil, just water!<\/span><\/h2>\n

              You can always buy a bottle of dried herbs, although they rarely come cheap; yet nothing beats the taste of fresh herbs off your plate. Now, this experiment of mine has already been going for a few months now. After learning from my apartment-dweller friend how he managed to grow some herbs even without soil, also tried it out. I called it my edible vase garden. It\u2019s just as simple as soaking some them in a jar of water.<\/p>\n

              *Take note not to soak the leaves.<\/strong><\/p>\n

              As usual, just replace the water regularly and let them capture some sunshine. The ones that had grown thick roots and had survived for months now on simply water are basil, oregano, spearmint, sage and lemon balm. I have yet to try out some tarragon, thyme and peppermint stem; yet based on these plants composition, the all-water habitat might also work for them.<\/p>\n

              Other tips on how to save money on your veggies<\/span><\/h2>\n